Oxlade-Chamberlain lights up otherwise dull game
ARSENAL 0 MAN CITY 1
FROM GOODPLAYA AT THE EMIRATES
DON’T let anyone have you believe that this result was all some kind of Mancini masterstroke.
For 83 minutes they’d looked only marginally more likely to score than in their previous 180 minutes at the Emirates. Those were two games in which they’d been unbelievably negative, bored us to tears frankly. Granted, when tonight’s goal came it was taken nicely enough, but it was hardly coming.
It really wasn’t a great game. We battled gamely enough. Youngsters – most obviously Oxlade-Chamberlain but also Coquelin and Frimpong – did very well, particularly given that Chamakh, Park and surprisingly Benayoun stunk frankly. They were helped by Djourou, Koscielny and Squillaci (who I can’t remember having one nightmare moment). Miquel was OK, while Fabianski has gone from coming for everything to coming for nothing, which was really disconcerting.
In tennis they record unforced errors and had you done that here, I imagine the count would have been fairly high for both sides. We struggled to keep the ball while what there was of City’s attacking play was error strewn. It was so conservative too: I can’t once remember Samir Nasri once actually beating his man. Hard to reconcile with all the plaudits they’ve received this season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain really was excellent: direct, always involved, unpredictable and sparky. Man of the match frankly.
As I intimated above, Arsene will have hardly been reassured that we have the replacements for RVP. Chamakh is woefully short of form while Park looks as unlikely a lone striker as I’d suspected he would be. I think the signing of a striker in January really is a must. And if we’re honest a keeper too.
A disappointing four days but really the big game is Wigan on Saturday. We were never favourites tonight and it was probably a lot closer than a lot of us thought it would be. All in all it was a bit of a weird night: the second half really was dreadfully dull at times (for which I blame City) and the crowd at both ends were really quiet at times for what should have been a rip roaring cup tie.
Yep, it’s not only van Persie who needs to stay fit, it’s Szczesny too. If either of those are out for a few weeks our hopes of a top four finish are gone.
i thought we were the better of the 2 teams. the goal was a bit of a shambles…reminded me of the goal bale scored against us in the 3-2 win for the spuds a year ago. scoring on a fast break from a corner/free-kick just shouldn’t happen. i haven’t seen the replay to see who’s at fault.
agree on AOC – very good game. before too long, i see him as overtaking arshavin as the main backup to walcott/gervinho. good to see frimpong and coquelin (despite his diminutive) size win much of the physical battle. the former should now go out on loan, the latter was out last year. hopefully diaby can serve as additional cover for song as well.
koscielny was MoM by far, then Frimpong, then Coquelin. THe Ox was OK in flashes but I was pretty disappointed with his energy when he didn’t have the ball
Bit harsh of Fabianski, I think. He didn’t do much wrong. Clearly Chesney is our number one, but if he is out for a few weeks, I have no problem with Fabianski between the sticks.
He can certainly kick a ball further than Chesney.
Kos, Ox, and Coquelin were the standouts for me.
Of Park and Chamakh, I thought Park was even worse. It’s tough. Park just couldn’t get a touch. Chamakh was getting involved, but the ball coming off of his heels, instead of into his path, was absolutely no surprise. Supporters are being incredibly patient with him.
Thought there were more positives to take away from the game than negatives. Were it not for their keeper Park and the Ox would have scored a couple of belters. koscielny had a brilliant game, think he will go on to prove to be one of Wengers masterstrokes in terms of transfers. He was everywhere mopping up when needed. Also though Miquel had a decent game.
For me, the biggest negative from the game was how impotent we look up front without RvP. The Ox was awesome, but Park and Chamakh will not be good enough to cover should RvP be out of action. This is where Wenger needs to focus. Get shot of Chamakh and the Russian in January, bring in cover for RvP and we will be sound. Fingers crossed, the talk about Poldoski holds some weight.
Nice report – thanks GP!
I’d love to take a striker – even on loan. Shame Bendtner didn’t have that tiny bit more patience.
I also agree with Josh in that Kos was superb and our MOM , ox and Coq also did well , but poor old Chamakh and Park , I just dunno …..
slc: overtaking Arshavin? Well, it is easy job to overtake someone who gets 5 minutes per game (what Wenger wanted him to do in these 5 minutes, I cannot figure out).
It’s not Ox who overtakes him, it is Wenger who does.
I thought we played well. Would have been good to get to extra-time & see how we would have coped. Agree though that the striking position is a massive worry. There is simply no way we cannot buy one in Jan. One injury to RvP & the season is over. Can anyone ever remember a player disimproving as much as Chamakh has ? It’s a complete mystery to me.
Was seriously impressed with Coquelin. We’ve had 3 years of no cover for Song, maybe this nonsense is finally at an end if he can step up.Needs a few more games soon so he’s more ready if anything does happen to Song. slcgunner – Diaby’s not an option; surely we know that by now….
Lee – Podolski is a poor player. Has done well for Germany in big tournaments but has basically done f-all at club level. Bayern could not wait to get shot of him. There’s simply no way I can believe he’s a Wenger target.
If RVP gets injured there is only one player in the current squad who has the ability and skill set to come anywhere providing the punch up front that RVP does and that is Walcott. The problem is that a) he is currently our main provider and b) he is still nowhere near the level of RVP in terms of knowing where he is supposed to be and when. Even so, he has got to be ahead of Chamakh and Park. So, assuming that Chamakh gets sold will Wenger go for a centre forward or will he do his old tric kof getting a player who can play ion more than one position so that he can play him in games that RVP plays as well as those when RVP does not?
And Koscielny was the best player on the pitch by a mile
Nice to have some consistency back on the blog…
I found Miquel outstanding, though he was at fault on Johnson’s shot. After that he really, really covered that left back position to highest marks. Time after time he stabbed the ball away from a thoroughly talented attacker. Brilliant!
Getting forward, however, just isn’t his game and he seemed a bit scared when he got the ball.
Along with an almost faultless Frimpong, two good centre halves and even an acceptable right back replacement I found it harsh to see the team beaten.
Ironic enough Vermalen, Benayoun, and Djourou are the ones to blame on the – I must admit – very good contra goal…
PD – I may have my Diaby goggles on and I acknowledge that he can definitely be frustrating. Right now, Coquelin is looking good as backup for Song. But I still think Diaby doesn’t belong in the Denilson, Eboue, Bendtner, Vela brigade. Yes – at this stage, he’s probably 5th or 6th choice for one of the middle 3 slots. The Ramsey position would probably be his best option – but he’s behind Ramsey for sure and players like Jack could also play in there. But I think he’ll play quite a bit in the weeks ahead – it will be interesting to see if he can establish himself and most of all become more consistent.
We’ve been waiting for him to become consistent for 6 years; that’s more than enough waiting for me.
I know he’s going to be playing a bit more in the coming weeks & just have to grin & bear it but if he plays even one game in Song’s position I’ll be disgusted with Wenger. Whatever about anywhere else in our midfield 3, he simply has no awareness for that position.
I have to say I think it’s more harsh on Bendtner than Diaby to be lumped in with those other clowns :-)
[...] cost about as much as one of their players put in a top performance, with most players impressing. GOOD playa highlights Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s performance, while Joss at ArsenalReport highlights the effort from the side as a whole, with a bit on the side [...]
Agree with PD . Why didn’t bendtner be given a bit op patience?
I’m gutted. Onother season without a trophy
Kos was m.o.m . He’s in great form
I just hope this team of wenger youngsters will deliver in the coming years.
No doubt we have the players
Szesney
Jenkinson
Gibbs
Wilshire
Frimpong
Ramsey
Ox chambo
Miyachi
Freeman
Aneke
Adobe
Talent is there. Hope it’s not another 7 years tho
Come on u reds
The future